Oldest fossilized microorganisms of Fennoscandian shield

Oldest fossilized microorganisms in chemically precipitated siliceous rocks with age ca. 3 Ga were discovered on Fennoscandian shield for the first time. The rocks are situated in the low part of oceanic volcanic succession in Vedlozero-Segozero greenstone belt (central Karelia). Microfossils which were found there are interpretated as silicified fragments of filamental microorganisms inhabitated zone of hydrothermal activity in a deep water environment.